Abstract: An apparatus for fixing a member to an aircraft structure including: firstly, fixing device having a shank with a head at one end, an externally machined portion of its peripheral wall at its other end, and a longitudinal interior thread at the same end as its externally machined portion, secondly, a bushing which cooperates with the machined portion of the shank so as to be fixed to the shank; and thirdly, an attachment device for attaching the member and having a threaded shank cooperating with the longitudinal interior thread.

Abstract: A distribution device for dense substances, especially concrete, with a distribution boom carrying a concrete-conveyance conduit, with at least one telescopic boom section (4) consisting of a first telescopic component and a second telescope component (6) that can be extended with respect to this first component, as well as at least one reinforcement beam that is arranged on one of the telescope components and carries a section of the concrete-conveyance conduit, wherein a section of the concrete-conveyance conduit in the region of the telescopic boom sections consists of a flexible hose with a compensation loop to accommodate the extension movement of the telescopic motion or of at least one scissor-type conduit assembly made up of swivel elements connected to each other in such a manner than the swivel elements in the two terminal positions of the telescopic boom section are substantially arranged in a crossover position and, together with the articulated joints that interconnect them, move past each other

Abstract: A convertible illuminated display case for drawing attention to an object or image. The display case includes a box having a front opening with a rim extending along at least a portion of its perimeter. The box has a removable front panel with a translucent wall. The display case also includes a support adapted to provide a base for displaying an object, and the support is further adapted for placement within the box. Rear cold light sources are disposed at the back of the box, and front cold light sources are disposed inside the box near the rim. A power supply device is connected to the front and rear cold light sources.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a vessel having a first end an a second end. A first cap is releasably mounted on the first end. A second cap is releasably mounted on the second end. The vessel is configured to prevent crushing and promote ventilating thereof. The first cap and/or second cap may have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. A fan is fixed relative to, for ventilating, the vessel. The fan is mounted on an end cap. The fan energizable with a battery. A switch is provided for selectably supplying energy to the fan. If a fan is provided, a barrier is disposed in the vessel configured to protect an object in the vessel from the fan. The barrier should have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. The invention may include a handle connected thereto, for carrying, the vessel.

Abstract: A vehicle parking guide apparatus adapted to provide visual indication when a predetermined position is reached. The vehicle parking guide apparatus includes a base and a pivotable contact rod with an indicator attached thereto. The base of the vehicle parking guide is positioned on the ground at a location selected to ensure that a vehicle properly engaged with the contact rod will be longitudinally and laterally aligned. To laterally position the vehicle relative to one or more lateral reference objects, the operator aligns the cross-car center of the vehicle with the indicator. To longitudinally position the vehicle relative to one or more longitudinal reference objects, the operator advances toward the parking guide until the vehicle engages the contact rod thereby causing the indicator to move. The movement of the indicator provides the operator with a visual indication that the vehicle is properly positioned in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A shutoff nozzle and valve assembly for gas-assisted injection molding having a nozzle body, a shutoff pin, a helical spring, a spring guide and a gas-injection valve assembly. The shutoff nozzle and valve assembly is a simple design including minimal components, thereby resulting in ease of maintenance and reduced cost. The nozzle assembly is self-actuating, using direct resin pressure to open the valve thereby enabling the flow of molten resin through the nozzle and into a mold cavity. After injection of the molten resin, the helical spring automatically engages the shutoff pin thereby closing the nozzle and valve assembly to prevent backflow. The gas-injection valve assembly is similarly self-actuating such that minimal operator supervision is required to operate the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A composite wheel assembly includes a wheel having a trim ring, a cladding, and a hubcap attached to the wheel. The wheel includes a disc and a rim flange circumscribing the disc with the disc and rim flange defining an outboard surface of the wheel. A trim ring mounts to and radially locates with respect to the rim flange and radially extends inward toward the disc. The cladding mounts to and radially locates with respect to the disc and radially extends outward toward the rim flange. The cladding overlaps the trim ring so that a continuous bright appearance extends across the entire outboard surface of the composite wheel assembly and so that any radial dimensional variation in the trim ring and cladding is taken up by the overlapping relationship therebetween.

Abstract: A composite vehicle wheel having a disk, a rim circumscribing the disk, and an ornamental metal-plated plastic overlay attached to the outboard surface of the disk. The overlay has a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces which form interior and exterior surfaces of the overlay. The interior surface mates with at least a portion of the outboard surface of the wheel while the exterior surface has a metal layer plated thereon. The overlay is formed from a relatively thin plastic panel such that the exterior surface uniformly and closely conforms to the outboard surface of the wheel and the metal layer is substantially flush with the adjacent portions of the outboard surface to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect to the wheel. The integrity of the metal layer is such that the overlay successfully meets corrosion resistance requirements for automobile manufacturers' original equipment.

Abstract: An aircraft seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat cushion has a rear portion along the seat back and a front portion of complementary shape to the rear portion to form a complete seat cushion. The rear portion moves between a raised position and a lowered position. A coupling arrangement connects the front portion to the rear portion so that when the front portion is in the raised position along the seat back the front portion is in the lowered position, in which at least part of it is retracted under the rear portion. When the rear portion is in its lowest position along the seat back the front portion is in a raised, advanced position at the same height as the rear portion to form therewith the seat cushion of the seat for receiving a seated passenger.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for constructing a wheel assembly by adhesively bonding a wheel cover to a wheel using a bead of foamed-in-place adhesive. As the wheel and wheel cover are assembled together, the bead of foamed-in-place adhesive is compressed between the wheel cover and the wheel, and thereby spreads out therebetween. The method results in a more complete volumetric fill of adhesive between the wheel cover and wheel, and results in a faster cure time of adhesive when compared to the prior art, thereby enabling a reduction in manufacturing cycle time and work-in-process inventory.

Abstract: A portable washroom for providing both washing and toilet facilities. The washroom is an enclosure that includes a base, upright supports mounted to the base, wall panels mounted between the upright supports, and a roof mounted to the top of the wall panels. An upward flushing toilet is mounted within the enclosure. The toilet has a waste line extending through one of the wall panels, and out of the enclosure so that waste from the flush toilet and wash basin is flushed outside of the enclosure. A wash basin is mounted within the enclosure and includes a drain line that connects to the toilet bowl waste line. A fresh water supply line extends through one of the wall panels of the enclosure and is fluidically connected to the toilet and to the wash basin for supplying fresh water thereto.

Abstract: An accumulator having an improved baffle connection and a related method of interlocking an outlet tube and baffle within annular grooves of a passage of an enclosure to prevent blow by of liquid refrigerant fluid past the baffle connection. The baffle includes a cylindrical extension having a mounting passage through which an outlet tube extends. The cylindrical extension and outlet tube extend into the passage of the enclosure and are engaged within one or more of the annular grooves of the enclosure to interlock the baffle and outlet tube to the enclosure. The enclosure preferably includes a puck having the passage therethrough, where the puck is inserted into a canister and then welded thereto.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for attaching vehicle doors to a body such that the doors are attachable without further adjustment. A net body coordinate system is established for a welded vehicle frame, and upper and lower locating slots are pierced in hinge pillars of the vehicle frame relative to the net body coordinate system. An offline fixture is provided for setting upper and lower door hinges cross-car and forming a locating nubbin in the hinges relative to a door. The door is attached to the vehicle frame by engaging the locating nubbins in the door hinges with the locating slots in the vehicle hinge pillar.

Abstract: A pedal adjustment system for an automobile having an accelerator cable and a master cylinder pushrod with a free end, the system having a brake pedal secured to a lower end of a brake pedal arm and an accelerator pedal secured to a lower end of an accelerator pedal arm. The adjustment of the brake pedal arm is effected by pivoting about the free end of the master cylinder pushrod, which pivotally engages the brake pedal arm between its ends, the pivoting being done by imposing a reversible force from an electric motor and gearbox assembly attached to an upper end of the brake pedal arm. The accelerator pedal arm, an upper end of which engages the accelerator cable, is adjusted in unison with the brake pedal arm by providing an accelerator pedal adjustment link, an upper end of which is coaxial with the brake pedal arm and a lower end of which is pivotally attached to the accelerator pedal arm at a location between the upper and lower ends of the accelerator pedal arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for analyzing biological or medical specimens, such as nucleic acids, tissue and the like, in which a closure element is provided for the leaktight closure of a preparation chamber formed in a basic body, the preparation chamber being connected to at least one first duct, through which substance can be introduced into and removed from the preparation chamber when the closure element is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for handling web material paid off from a coil to a downstream end-use machine. The method generally includes automatically adjusting the height of the coil of web material to maintain a consistent payoff line, and includes dekinking the trailing end of the web material to prevent damage to downstream machines. The apparatus generally includes a reel-type uncoiler having a vertically adjustable mandrel and having a payoff roll biased into engagement with the outside diameter of the coil to define a payoff line of the web material. A dekinker is positioned just downstream of the uncoiler to dekink the trailing end of the web material and to thread the leading end of the web material into a downstream feeder. The dekinker includes a threader roll and a breaker roll pivotably mounted about a common pivot axis, wherein a kinked portion of web material is straightened therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for the assembly of body components to an automotive body that has undergone a progressive series of framing and welding steps so as to produce a structurally rigid body frame, termed a body-in-white. More specifically, this invention relates to creating a new net locating scheme (X-Y-Z coordinate system) for a body-in-white to direct associated tooling to create net attachment features on said rigid body frame so that components may be attached to said automotive body at a net location eliminating the need for any slip plane attachment techniques.

Abstract: An ornamental wheel cover integrally retained on the lug nuts of a vehicle wheel that provides positive positioning of the cover to the lug nuts. The cover is provided with a number of elongated tubular extensions axially projecting therefrom that are each partially slotted to provide a plurality of cantilevered fingers. Each finger has an undercut groove that positively positions the cover to the lug nuts of the wheel. When the cover is attached to the wheel, the elongated tubular extensions are aligned with the lug nuts and the cover is moved axially inwardly of the wheel so that the cantilevered fingers separate slightly as they pass over the flange of the lug nut. The wheel cover further includes a wire band retainer to bias the innermost cantilevered fingers into continual engagement with the lug nuts, even during temperatures that would otherwise cause the plastic to distort due to heat creep.

Abstract: An axe capable of delivering a relatively intensified impact and reduced recoil compared to prior art axes. The axe includes a head, a handle, a rigid casing, and shock-absorbing particles disposed within a portion of the axe. The head includes a blade end and a blunt end with the handle integrally extending from the blunt end and terminating in a grip portion. The rigid casing extends upwardly from around the grip portion of the handle, extends over a rear portion of the head, and terminates against a portion of the blade end of the head. Shock-absorbing particles are disposed within a chamber that is defined by the casing and the head. Upon impact of the axe with an object, the particles suddenly shift forward to intensify the impact of the axe and to reduce the recoil of the axe.

Abstract: An apparatus for finding and immobilizing a vehicle chassis frame in its free state to form a net datum position in the design-intent position. The chassis frame is positioned between a plurality of opposed pads. The opposed pads are advanced from a retracted position to an advanced position to find the chassis frame. The opposed pads engage the chassis frame such that there is minimal displacement or deformation thereof. Once the opposed pads find their respective reference contact surfaces on the chassis frame, a locking mechanism is provided for locking the pair of opposed pads in place in the advanced position so as to immobilize the chassis frame therebetween. Subsequently, a forming and piercing mechanism may be used to fabricate locating features net to the frame fixture and in design-intent position on the chassis frame.